There is nothing more frustrating than taking the time to paint your nails only to have them chip the following morning. Fortunately, gel polishes can provide beautiful results that will last for up to two weeks, so you can feel confident in your nails and won’t have to worry about constant reapplications. For women who like to keep perfectly manicured nails, gel polish may be your new miracle solution. Best of all, you can save the time and money usually spent at the salon and still enjoy the same beautiful, long-lasting results.

What Is Gel Nail Polish?

Gel nail polish can help you create salon-worthy results at home. With gel polish, you can create a smooth finish that lasts for up to two to three weeks, so you won’t need to worry about chipping, peeling, or cracking. Gel polish is not the same as regular nail polish, so you will need to use either an LED lamp or UV lamp that is specially designed for gel nail polish to set or cure it.

Once you have applied a thin layer of gel base coat, you can apply two thin layers of color and cure. Then, seal the color with a thin layer of top coat and cure once more. Professionals agree that it is best to finish the thumbs first and then the other fingers for the best results.

Top 5 Gel Nail Polishes

SensatioNail Gel Polish Starter Kit

SensatioNail offers various starter kits and gel polishes in all different colors. The polish will dry in only 60 seconds with an LED lamp and can last for up to two weeks. You only need to complete three easy steps for super gloss shine and long lasting results. It is perfect for anyone who is impatient with their nails because there is virtually no dry time and the results will last for weeks. The affordable SensatioNail gel polish starter kit truly contains everything you need for 10 complete manicures.

The complete starter kit includes a gel cleanser, gel primer, gel base and top coat, color gel polish, lint free wipes, a double-sided nail buffer, manicure stick, and even an LED lamp. The kit also includes an instruction sheet to ensure that you get perfect results every time. Most LED lamps are more expensive than this entire starter kit, so it is a great value. Once you purchase the starter kit, you can continue to use the LED lamp with other SensatioNail gel polishes. Most reviewers stated that this kit provides salon-quality results that can last for weeks, with minimal effort or time spent.

Gelish Soak Off Gel Nail Polish

The Gelish Soak Off Gel Nail Polish performs like a gel but applies like a polish. The patent-pending formula quickly cures in a LED lamp in 30 seconds, or in a UV lamp in two minutes. The lasting high shine polish won’t dull, chip, or peel for up to three weeks. Gel polish can be difficult to remove, which is what makes these soak-off polishes so beneficial. All you have to do is soak the polish for 10-15 minutes and it comes right off.

This is so easy to apply that even beginners have no problem at all. The soak-off gel polish is available in endless colors and shades. Gelish is one of the most popular brands of gel polish and was the first brush-in-bottle gel polish invented. This cult classic polish is recommended by Influenster, StyleCaster, and endless beauty blogs. It is also backed by outstanding online reviews, including over a thousand five-star reviews on Amazon. If you don’t have a base and top coat for your new gel polish, consider the Gelish Fantastic Four Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish Kit For LED Lamp, which offers everything you need to apply gel polish expertly.

OPI Gelcolor

The OPI Gelcolor performs like a gel but applies like a polish. The advanced gel polymer formula features high-speed LED technology to provide superior results in less time. The polishes offer long wear, high shine, and a rich color that doesn’t fade, chip, or dull. Gel polish can be difficult to remove, which is what makes these soak-off polishes so beneficial. All you have to do is soak the three-free gel polish for 10-15 minutes and it comes right off. This is so easy to apply that even beginners have no problem at all. The soak-off gel polish is available in 38 colors and shades.

OPI is one of the most popular nail polish brands available and the gel polishes are no different. You can even find them at your local drugstore. After testing out several gel polishes, PopSugar found that OPI gel polishes offer at least two weeks of chip-free color and up to four weeks on a pedicure. Real Simple found that OPI offers the longest lasting results and better staying power than other polishes, regardless of whether you choose the regular or gel polish. There’s a reason most salons use OPI polish; it simply offers better results than the rest.

BMC Thermal Heat Color Changing Nail Lacquers Gel Polish Master Set

BMC Thermal Heat Color Changing Nail Lacquers Gel Polish Master Set contains three color changing polishes that will change colors before your eyes. This means that you will get two colors in each bottle because you can enjoy one color in high temperatures and one color in low temperatures, such as when you wash your hands with hot or cold water.

The polish is easy to apply and can last for up to three weeks. You can use any gel base and top coat with these polishes and either a UV or LED lamp can be used to set them. It takes an average of 30-60 seconds to cure with an LED lamp and about 2-4 minutes to cure with a UV lamp. BMC offers all different shades and colors of gel polish, including glitter and color changing options, so you can choose the right one to match your style and mood. BMC also offers quality top and base coat polishes and other starter kits and manicure essential sets.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Color

Sally Hansen is one of the most popular gel polishes available and you can even find them at your local drugstore. Best of all, as the only true two-step gel manicure available, you won’t need a UV/LED light to get the desired gel results. You can also remove it easily with regular nail polish remover, so the gel polish works exactly the same as a regular polish.

There are 48 beautiful colors available and Sally Hansen offers an online quiz so that you can find your perfect shade of polish. The picture-perfect results will last for up to two weeks, but for the longest lasting results possible, you’ll need the Sally Hansen gel top coat. Lucky Magazine named Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Color one of the best at-home gel polishes available because they last forever. In fact, after some Lucky staffers tested this gel polish out, they were able to last the full two weeks with chip-free nails.

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